Screen and fabric therefor



Jan. 21, 1930. J. MRAZ ETAL 9 SCREEN AND FABRIC THEREFOR Filed Dec. 29. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 if iii 11,26 gmmtw,

Jan. 21, 1930.

J. MRAZ ET AL SCREEN AND FABRIC THEREFOR Filed Dec. 29. 1926 .0Z72 02/ am 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rpvmms;

Z awr a JeZ.

Patented Jan. 21, 1930 JOHN MRAZ AND JULIUS S'IEDEL, OF BASHAW, ALBERTA, CANADA This invention relates to a fly or insect screen structure, its fabric and method of producing the latter.

An important aim is to produce an article of this kind whose principles may be practiced in an insect trap as well as in a window screen or a door screen.

Another object is to form a screen structure in which the insects may be trapped from opposite sides thereof.

A third object is to provide a screen fabric of zigzag cross section having the fiy openings produced by relatively large meshes at the innermost points and with certain of the screen wires or strands at such meshes severed to facilitate bending of the fabric and formation of said severed ends of said strands through said bending into guards to prevent passage of the flies therethrough in the undesired or return direction.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a screen structure produced in accordance with the invention Figure 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the structure suggesting the detachability of the sections thereof;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan of the wire screen in flat condition and as prepared for folding Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken SCREEN AND FABRIC THEREFOR Application filed December 29, 1926. Serial No. 157,746.

through the screen on line 55 of Figure 4 but being bent into utile form;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a modified form of screen or fabric;

line 88 of Figure 6;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 7.7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 1s a detail section taken 011 the Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a further form of screen or fabric.

In the said drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like or similar parts throughout the different views, A designates the structure as a unit and B and C designate screen sections composing said unit and separably connected together so that they may be separately as well as unitarily used.

Sections B and C are substantially similar and the same numerals for the most part apply to both sections. Each section has a rectangular or other suitably shaped frame 10 of metal or wood against one side of which a screen fabric 11 is marginally engaged and secured in lace by binding strips 12 nailed or otherwise fastened to the frame Each screen fabric or sheet 11 is made of latticed or crossed metallic wires or strands as usual but at regular intervals a transverse wire is removed to provide escape openings 13 normally of twice the height of the meshes of the fabric, for flies or other insects. The alternate longitudinal wires or strands are severed art-14c adjacent the openings 18 and along the lines of the removed transverse wires. This is best detailed in Figure 4 where the fragment of the screen fabric is flat. Each fabric 11 in this condition is bent into the zigzag form of Figures 1 and 2 providing inwardly extending V-shaped portions or ridges 15 having correspondingly shaped passages 16 to lead or decoy the insects to the openings 15. The bending of the screen fabrics as de tailed in Figure 5 spaces the terminals of the wires severed at 14 to provide guards 17 to minimize the danger of the return of flies through said openings 13. The border or margin of each screen fabric where disposed between the associated frame 10 and adjacent binding strips 12 remains flat or is flattened after formation of the same into the portions 15 as well appears in Figure 2. The bending of the screen fabrics into zigzag form as well as being determined for bending along portions 14, is greatly facilitated by the fact that only alternate wires thereof are intact or severed.

Metallic rods 19 reinforce the ridges or V-shaped portions 15 of the screen fabrics 11. Said rods 19 pass through dilated meshes of the fabrics adjacent the outer extremities of the walls of ridges 15. Said rods 19 may be clamped against frame 10 by the adjacent strips 12 or fastened in place in any desired manner.

Suitable terminals of rods 19 of one screen section B or C, are formed into hooks 20 which are adapted to overlap the other screen section and in combination with a fastening 21, detachably or separably secure the sections B and C together. Substitute fastening means for the hooks 20 and fastening 21 may be utilized. Fastening 21 specifically, may consist of a winged screw 22 removably passed through a hole 23 in section B and engaged with a nut 24 embedded and held against rotation in section C as by countersinking it snugly into an opening 25 in frame 10 overlapped by the adjacent strip 12 which has a hole 26 for passage of screw 22 therethrough.

In using the device it may be in unitary form as suggested in Figure 3. Such device may form a window screen, screen for a door or serve as a fly trap, in each instance being mounted or positioned in any desired way. The flies will be caught or trapped from opposite sides of the device since the ridges and passages extend toward each other, preferably in staggered relation as shown. The flies follow the passages to the openings or meshes 13 and pass through the same into the interior of the trap from which they will not escape as the reverse ridges lead them to the outer apices which merely have meshes of normal size. Guards 17 minimize the chances of return of the flies through the openings 13. This structure especially in a screen door avoids the accumulation of flies on the outside of the screen which enter the house or building when the door is opened. Particularly in the case of use as a trap, bait like sugar or a sweetened poison, for instance, may be placed Within the device. At desired intervals, the sections B and C may be separated for release of flies which if not poisoned may be otherwise killed, or merely permitted to starve.

Sections B and C may be separately used or the principles of the invention may be practiced merely in a single screen fabric as for windows or doors or the fabric formed as described used in any relation or location. In such instances, the openings 13 are arranged outwardly so that the flies will escape through the V-shaped passages to openings 13 and then into the atmosphere.

Referring now to Figures (3, 7 and 8, the screen fabric 30 may be used instead of that at 11 and is also of such form as to be capable of use in place of the ordinary screen fabric of window screens and screen doors. Fabric 30 is shown as devoid of the rods 19 and as having the marginal edges bent back completely around the same as at 31 to reinforce the same and flatly engage the frame of the window screen or screen door and be secured thereto as by nails penetrating such reinforced edge portions. Said fabric 30 within the reinforced border 31 is substantially similar to fabric 11 and hence the elements 13 to 17 thereof substantially correspond to elements 13 to 17, respectively of the preceding form. It is to be noted however, that the angles of the V-shaped portions or ridges 15 differ from those of ridges 15. i

In Figure 9, a ridge or V-shaped portion 10 is shown in plan or elevation. The flyescape openings are designated 13. At each of said openings, two longitudinal wires 41 are severed rather than a single one as in the preceding forms. Any number of said longitudinal wires may thus be severed according to the meshes of the screen fabric and sizes of the fiy-escape holes desired. In addition the unsevered longitudinal wires 11 may be reinforced by having wire strands 42 in one or more plies twisted or wrapped around the san'ie and interwoven in a serpentine path in the meshes. This modification is applicable to either the form of Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 and 7, and in fact may be considered the same as Figure 4 relative to the first form.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Vhat is claimed is 1. A screen consisting of afabric having strands severed to provide fly-escape openings, and elongated means additional to the fabric wrapped about unsevered strands adjacent the openings to reinforce the structure.

2. A screen consisting of a fabric having strands severed to provide fly-escape openings, and means additional to the fabric extending a considerable distance along and reinforcing unsevered strands adjacent the openings.

3. A screen consisting of a fabric provided with fly-escape openings, and means additional to the fabric extending alternately longitudinally and transversely of the fabric reinforcing the fabric adjacent the openings.

4. In a two-part screen structure, one of the parts comprising a frame and a fabric, a reinforcing rod for the frame and fabric, said rod being extended laterally for engagement With the coacting part of the structure.

5. In a two-part screen structure, one of the parts comprising a frame and a fabric, a reinforcing rod for the frame and fabric, said rod having a hook at one end extended laterally for engagement With the coacting part of the structure.

In testimony whereof We have aflixed our signatures.

JOHN MRAZ. JULIUS STEDEL. 

